Rabbi Jonathan Cahn Is Wrong! The Harbinger Revisited

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of hullabaloo over a book entitled, "The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds America's Future" by Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn.  Let me state, right out the gate I do not share Rabbi Cahn's eschatological views. His futuristic views are based on a book that was written by a Spanish Jesuit priest named Manuel de Lacunza in 1790.  The book entitled, "The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty" was published in English in 1827 by Edward Irving. It was embraced by J. N Darby and popularized by Cyrus Scofield when he added these views into his notes into his Scofield Reference Bible – published in 1909.  These views were denounced by every evangelical scholar of their day.  The major problem with this view is that it does not account for the Jewish people's return to the land, the rebuilding of the temple, and their independence as a nation between 332-141 BCE.   This history is unknown to many evangelical and charismatic communities today because Martin Luther removed the history recorded in l & ll Maccabees.  These two books outline the period of Jewish independence under the Hasmonean Dynasty, which I am sure that Rabbi Cahn is familiar with. Even Jesus himself celebrated this history in his time, (see John 10:22-23) which is known as “The Festival Of Lights” or Hanukkah. Every Jewish person in the world observes this celebration.   Hanukkah is a festival that commemorates the period, after the death of Alexander the Great, when Mattathias of the Hasmonean family overthrew Antiochus IV the Seleucid (Syrian) king and won Israel’s independence.  This revolt led to the restoration and cleansing of the Rebuilt Temple (which Jesus referred to as “His Father’s House”), the Jews returning to the land, and the national borders of Israel being extend to its original boundaries as it was during the time of King David. This history fulfilled all the ancient prophecies of Israel's return to the land.  Israel remained an independent state for eighty years until being overthrown again by the Romans in 63 BCE.  The unfortunate thing is that Rabbi Cahn’s futuristic Lacunzain ideas have left out this history and has resulted in “Zionism” being taught to the Body Of Christ.  Many misinformed, misleading teachers in the Body Of Christ no little of this history and focus their time on teaching the false views of Manuel de Lacunza. As a result, all their end time views present a negative, pessimistic view of the future.  Matthew 25: 31-46 speaks of a time in the future when every nation will be judged. However, the question that Jonathan Cahn presents to us is – Can the ancient prophecies against the northern kingdom of Israel (During 735-722) be applied to America today?  Having said that, I do agree with Rabbi Cahn that America is under judgment.  However, I find Rabbi Cahn hermeneutics, semiotics, theology and interpretation of American History completely inaccurate.  America is not under judgment because of  having broken a national covenant with God like Israel had.  During what period of American history did our national leaders make a covenant with God like ancient Israel? Pat Robertson, Michelle Bachman, nor Rabbi Cahn can prove this as a historical fact. The only reason our nation is under judgment is because of our refusal to repent and make amends  for our national sin.

Let me state clearly, that I think Rabbi Jonathan Cahn is a sincere, gracious, and godly man and that my evaluation is not of his character or integrity.  He also is a great speaker. However, his presentation in “The Harbinger” of the nine signs of judgment found in Ancient Israel’s history become suspect unless he can demonstrate where else in Gentile history those same judgments came on other nations because of their national sin.  If we are going to apply the same national judgments of Israel onto other nations we need to establish that those nations had not only a national covenant but also a direct promises from God, and who outlined the terms of such covenants to those nations.  America has no such covenant because we were not one consolidated nation until after the civil war.  Before our present constitution was established the 13 original colonies were 13 independent nations. This is a historical fact that is well documents under the Articles Of Confederation." 

Now I would like to turn our attention to a summary of “The Harbinger” and Rabbi Cahn’s nine signs of judgment based on his interpretation of Isaiah 9:1-11.  We will look at his what he presents and I will demonstrate why his application of the Northern Kingdom of Israel’s judgment is a misapplication to the events surrounding 911. Theologian David James, who has both debated Cahn and written a significant book about The Harbinger, argues that Cahn “believes he has discovered nine signs, or omens (“harbingers”), and an ancient mystery in the Isaiah passage that ‘explains everything from 9/11 to the collapse of the global economy.’  The nine Harbingers include:  The Breach, The Terrorist, Fallen Bricks, The Tower, The Gazit Stone, The Sycamore, The Cedar Trees, The Utterance, and The Prophecy.  Before we begin examining these nine aspects of Cahn's presentation I think we need to understand the historical context of Isaiah 9. During the time that the prophet Isaiah penned these words, it was a time of great political turmoil for the nation of Judah.  Assyria was expanding its empire, attacking the Northern Kingdom Of Israel and Syria.  When Judah refused to join a coalition with Israel and Syria to resist The Assyrian empire, Judah was attacked by Israel and Syria in retaliation.  As Judah seriously considered inviting Assyria to help, Isaiah sought to encourage the king and the people to trust the Lord. King Ahaz of Judah rejected Isaiah's advice and asked Assyria to come to his aid. It soon became apparent that Judah was next on Assyria's hit list.  So Judah, instead of turning to the Lord for guidance and listening to the prophet Isaiah, looked to Egypt and the Babylon for help which eventually led to the Babylonia exile. This is the context of Isaiah 9:10.  Now let examine Rabbi Cahn's scripture text Isaiah 9:1-11 and how he applies it to America.

First Harbinger:  The Breach

Rabbi Cahn begins with his notion of a national covenant being established by Rev. Robert Hunt and cross planted by the first English colonists on the shores of Cape Henry, Virginia on April 29, 1607.  In his book, he argues that The United States has created a breach by forsaking this covenant just like the Northern Kingdom Of Israel broke its covenant with God.  As a result, the 400 years of protection around America was lifted on 911 in a similar way that the hedge of protection  around ancient Israel was lifted.  He cites that when the United States banned prayer from schools (1963), abortion was legalized (1973), the collapse of the global economy (2008), and now He uses the recent Supreme Court decisions (2015) on Obamacare and Gay Marriage as a continued proof of this broken covenant.

 PROBLEM

Biblically:  Isaiah 9 begins with the messianic promise of Jesus.  In the midst of the Assyrian threat to the northern kingdom, God speaks through Isaiah to say that despite all the infighting between Israel and Judah - God will establish David's kingdom.  It’s a passage of hope. However, Isaiah continues his prophecy by addressing the southern kingdom. He tells them the northern kingdom will fall because of its arrogance and conceited hearts but then explains that The Kingdom Of Judah will fall because of their own national sins.  This passage presents that both kingdoms would be judged for their (differing) national sins and then turns to judging the nation of Assyria (Isaiah 10:5) for its sin. An important thing to see here is that only Israel and Judah have a covenant that is broken. Assyria had no covenat at all with Yahweh. All this passage of scripture presents is that nations will be judged according to their national sins.  However, It does not leave these nations without hope.  Isaiah is a book that promises "restoration”. No where do we hear Rabbi Cahn offer the prophetic hope that "God will restore" the nations in his usage of this passage of scripture. In Isaiah 11:1-16 it promises that The Lord's kingdom (not Judah or Israel) will be ruled by a shoot from Jesse's stump.  We know this is another messanic promise pointing to Jesus. My question is: How do these Old Testament promises apply to a nation in light of Jesus' finished work on the Cross?

American History Explored:   Rabbi Cahn holds to the view that The English colonization Of America began with the planting of the cross at Cape Henry, Virginia and a covenant and dedication of the land to God.  Unfortunately, this history is complete fiction.  Rabbi Cahn has relied on "faulty research" that was presented to Pat Robertson.  The Virginia Company was a commercial business venture that was granted a charter based on "The Doctrine Of Discovery."  (Search "doctrine of discovery" with professor Robert Miller on youtube)  It had absolutely nothing to do with a covenant with God.  The Doctrine of Discovery was the foundation of our country's settling. It involved The Dutch, The Swedes, The French, The Spanish, and The English. The English planted their flag to let the other Euro-centric nations know this was their claimed territory. Their whole purposes in coming were to dispossess the land and bring the Native American population into slavery. As the Natives resisted the English elected to bring in African slaves dispossessed from West Africa. 

The Second Harbinger:  The Terrorist

Our author states that for Israel, the Assyrians were like the modern day terrorists. For America, the terrorist of 911 were like the 8th century BCE Assyrian terrorist.  (I didn't know the ancient Assyrians knew how to fly airplanes. Lol) 

PROBLEM

Biblically:

The Assyrians were a Semitic people, children of the Middle East. Any Student of history knows that the Ancient Assyrian Empire extended through modern day Iraq, Turkey, and down through Egypt. When threatened by The Northern Kingdom, Judah appealed to Egypt as well as Babylon to help them. 

American History Explored

The Terrorist on 911 were from Saudi Arabia. Even though former President George Bush and his team had us all believe that Iraq (Ancient Babylon) was involved the United States, none of the hijackers were from there of the ancient Assyrian empire.  In fact, here is the list of muslim nations involved:

Hijackers by Airplane:

American Airlines Flight 11 

Mohamed Atta - Egypt, tactical leader of 9/11 plot and pilot

Abdul Aziz al Omari - Saudi Arabia 

Wail al Shehri - Saudi Arabia

Waleed al Shehri - Saudi Arabia 

Satam al Suqami - Saudi Arabia

United Airlines Flight 175 

Fayez Banihammad - United Arab Emirates

Ahmed al Ghamdi - Saudi Arabia 

Hamza al Ghamdi - Saudi Arabia

Marwan al Shehhi - United Arab Emirates, pilot 

Mohand al Shehri - Saudi Arabia

American Airlines Flight 77 

Hani Hanjour - Saudi Arabia, pilot

Nawaf al Hazmi - Saudi Arabia

Salem al Hazmi - Saudi Arabia

Khalid al Mihdhar - Saudi Arabia

Majed Moqed - Saudi Arabia

United Airlines Flight 93 

Saeed al Ghamdi - Saudi Arabia

Ahmad al Haznawi - Saudi Arabia

Ziad Jarrah - Lebanon, pilot 

Ahmed al Nami - Saudi Arabia

Hijackers by Nationality:

Egypt

Mohamed Atta

Lebanon

Ziad Jarrah

Saudi Arabia

Ahmed al Ghamdi 

Hamza al Ghamdi 

Saeed al Ghamdi 

Hani Hanjour 

Nawaf al Hazmi 

Salem al Hazmi 

Ahmad al Haznawi 

Ahmed al Nami 

Khalid al Mihdhar 

Majed Moqed 

Abdul Aziz al Omari 

Mohand al Shehri 

Wail al Shehri 

Waleed al Shehri 

Satam al Suqami

United Arab Emirates

Fayez Banihammad 

Marwan al Shehhi

You might wonder why I invoke the use of the term "muslim" nations.  Most Americans have no idea why we were attacked on 911.  First, let me be very clear that all of our national movements since 911 have been based on "The Doctrine Of Discovery" which has been embedded into the US legal system since 1823. This Doctrine had its foundations in the crusades to the Holy Land in 1096-1271 CE. against the Islamic control of The Holy Land.  European countries and the Christian church began developing law to justify their alleged rights to dominate and colonize non-Christian nations – particularly Islamic nations during the crusades. One wouldn’t think of this archaic papal bulls when witnessing democratic states like Brazil or the United States building dams on Amazon rivers or drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean. Yet today's political ethics are surprisingly based on the doctrine of discovery set by the Vatican back in 1452. Fifteenth-century papal bulls have declared war against all non-Christian peoples and encouraged the conquest and exploitation of enemy territories throughout the world. European explorers like Columbus took possession of newly "discovered" non-Christian lands with the express authorisation of the European Churches. 

This internationally recognised doctrine allowed claims to be made on "empty" invaded lands outlasted long gone European monarchies and has become enshrined in secular nation-states. In the US, for instance, Chief Justice John Marshall used the right of discovery in 1823 to invalidate Native American claims over their land and to assert the authority of the US government over land titles which led to the "Introduction of the African Slave trade" and "Trail Of Tears."  But what most people havent heard was that the US invasion of Iraq was legally based on the Doctrine Of Discovery. 

This is why the the Islamic world has viewed our involvement in the middle east as a Holy Jihad.  The Islamic world has declared a Holy Jihad against our nation because of claims to their lands, assets and promise of American democracy.  What does this have to do with the ancient Assyrian Empire expansion into Israel and Judah?  Rabbi Cahn has led many to believe it's a covenant issue.  No! It's a matter of American expanisionism on other nations.  We are more like the Assyrians rather than the ancient kingdom of Israel.  Maybe Isaiah 10 would be a better chapter to apply to our nation. In light of the Saudi Arabian money funding the 911 terriorist, it could be suggested that the Sunni nation was attempting to coerce the United States into invading Iraq, to keep the shites (Iran) from dominating the middle east. But, Rabbi Cahn's only concern would be our nations relationship to Israel and the application of Israel's ancient history to the new promised land - America! 

The Third Harbinger:  The Fallen Bricks

According to Rabbi Cahn the most visible sign to ancient Israel were that of the fallen the fallen bricks. He explains that the Fallen Bricks of Isaiah 9:10 were like the bricks of the fallen twin towers of the World Trade Center (The Destruction Of The Temple and Walls Of Jerusalem took place in 586 BCE by the Ancient Babylonians) According to Rabbi Cahn "In 911 the most visible site of the attack was also the fallen brick of the fallen buildings." The Twins Towers were made of STEEL, CONCRETE and GLASS. No Bricks!  Another thing that needs to be pointed out in the midst of the twin towers - God gave another sign to speak to our nation that Rabbi Cahn missed. The Cross!  

PROBLEM

Biblically:
Isaiah 9:8-10:4 is a prophecy to the ten tribes of Israel.  A careful study of the southern claim against the north began in the divided kingdom between Rehoboam vs. Jeroboam in I Kings 12.  When Isaiah 9 begins God is addressing the whole issue of empire building.  The two nations of Israel and Judah were embattled over which kingdom was right.  This same argument is present to Jesus with the Samaritan woman in John 4 with a promise.  The day is coming when you shall not worship in Jerusalem or Samaria but worship the Lord in spirit and truth.  The conflict between these two nations had to do with centralization of power and decentralization of power.  A tension that has always been in our country since our civil war - Federalism vs. state rights.  Ultimately, this passage points to the words of Jesus in John 4. What I don't understand is how can so many Christians be so gullible to rely on Rabbi Cahn's assertions that this conflict applies to our nation.  Israel and Judah were being judged for their national sins as independant nations.  Judah's overconfidence in believing that as long as they had the tempple and city - God was on their side - would keep them from believing that nothing would happen to them. But their appeal to Babylon resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem.  The World trade center was not a TEMPLE... NO WALLS SURROUNDING THE CITY either. NO Babylonians (Iraq) were involved. How can you take an ancient prophecy of judgement like this and apply it to a nation where there never was a national covenant established.  

American History Explored:

Why would God trust our founding father's who came here intent on dispossing the land and bringing the inhabitants into perpetual slavery. How could God trust these colonial powers to keep their word. Our founding fathers made some 330+ covenants with the Native Americans and not one was ever kept but Rabbi Cahn doesn't point this out.  When the founders of Jamestown found that they could not subjugate the first nations people along the Chesapeake Bay, Governor Berkley of Virginia said, "bring in the African."  This was the beginning of our national sin - slavery.  

Rabbi Cahn believes that America's secularism has resulted in America's broken covenants with God. I think God is concerned how we've always been a nation of covenant breakers. He is a coveant making, covenant keeping God. We haven't keep one covenant we've made with the Native American tribes. Even our story of Thanksgiving history is a story of Native American slavery. According to Dr. C. Peter Wagner, our national sin is "Slavery." (See https://renewaljournal. wordpress.com 2011/07/18/the-power-to-heal-the-past-by-c-peter-wagner/ )  This country was founded on the "Doctrine Of Discovery" which is still used to deny the equal treatment of Native American under the laws of the United States. 

These next six aspects of Rabbi Cahn's interpretation of events we will discuss after reviewing each of his viewpoints: 

The Fourth Harbinger:  The Tower

In Rabbi Cahn's book, "The harbinger" uses Israel's history to demonstrate that after the Assyrian attack, the kingdom of Israel did not repent from its sins but vowed to rebuild its buildings with its own power. He continues to build his case that United States has not repented from its sins even after the warning of the fallen towers. Rabbi Cahn continues his arguement that, like ancient Israel, The United States (People? Government? Leaders? have continued on a path of defiance and 

vowed to rebuild on Ground Zero. The problem here is that he does not bring his readers in a complete understanding of the prophet Isaiah. 

PROBLEM

Biblically:

The Rabbi is right that Isaiah was speaking to Israel being on a path of defiance. Isaiah 9:11 says "Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars. In their pride, the leaders and the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel said, Who cares if God judges us? Whatever is torn down, we will rebuild with something better. We have nothing to fear from what God can bring against us."  What a brief but deeply psychological picture this is of an unfaithful generation that keeps dreaming of better times to come and lightheartedly ignores the severe judgments of God. But the only correlation betwen ancient Israel and our nation is to ignore WHY God's judgment is upon our land.  John Calvin once said more than 300 years ago: How many are the distresses with which Europe has been afflicted for thirty or forty years? How many are the chastisements by which she has been called to repentance? And yet it does not appear that those numerous chastisements have done any good. On the contrary, luxury increases every day, lawless passions are inflamed, and men go on in crimes and profligacy more shamelessly than ever. In short, those very calamities appear to have been so many excitements to luxury and splendour. What then should we expect but to be bruised with heavier blows?

American History Explored:

In light of our naitonal heritage of white priviledge and supposedly color blindness may have thought "slavery" was finished with the emancipation proclaimation.  Recent, events in Ferguson, New York City, Baltimore, and now in Charleston certainly have demonstrated that our nation has yet to resolve our national iniquity.  If there is a prophetic sign in the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York it is this:  The Terrorist wanted to bring down 

The World Trade Center to disrupt America's financial institutions. No where in Rabbi Cahn's book does he show how The World Trade Center is linked to America's REAL sin - Slavery and Racism.  W

hat most Americans are not aware of is that The World Trade Center was built on the graveyard of slaves. If there is a prophetic sign in this fact here is what I believe Rabbi Cahn is missing.  

According to Martin Frazer's research, which was published in an article entitled, "Slavery In New York: Uncovering The Brutal Truth" (See http://peoplesworld.org/slavery-in-new-york-uncovering-the-brutal-truth ) Wall St. and much of this city's renowned financial district was built on the burial ground of African Slaves. Frazer points out: "New York's prosperity stems in large part from the grotesque profits of the African slave trade and African enslavement."  If God is saying anything to our nation it is that we have to address our past national sins and the present "racism" evidenced by all the recent police profiling and shooting, recent events in Baltimore, The massacher at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC., and the recent churches burned to the ground in the south since. God has lifted his hand off our nation because we refuse to address our sin of racism... not because we have a naitonal covenant. I'd like the Religious-right to provide us with any "documentation" that founding father's made a national covenant with God.  Michelle Bachman, Rabbi Cahn, and others have been saying we need our nation to go back.  Go back to what "Slavery"?  The Trail Of Tears?  The religious right always yells about the devestating effect that abotion has made on our history - but never discuss that the abortion industry began with Margret Sanger introducing it to extremenate the black race in America. You will never hear them discuss the African American Slavery Holocuast or the atrocities committed against the Native American populations.  Rabbi Cahn is quick to point out our nation was a Christian nation? Well Rabbi, it is the church that colonized our nation under the "Doctrine Of Discovery" and instituted slavery right from the beginning of our nation - including Philadlephia's beloved William Penn who came with 18 slaves in the founding of Pennsylvania.  Just before the election of Abraham Lincoln... 

- The 15th President Of The United States Franklyn Pierce said,

"Slavery: “I believe that involuntary servitude, as it exists in different states of this confederacy, is recognized by the Constitution.” 

Relationship with Native Americans: “The settlers on the frontier have suffered much from the incursions of predatory bands, and large parties of emigrants to our Pacific possessions have been massacred with impunity. The recurrence of such scenes can only be prevented by teaching these wild tribes the power of and their responsibility to the United States.” (December 1854)

Even with the writings of the late Peter Marshall and David Manuel in their Christian Utopian version of New England, "In the Light and The Glory" They wrongly present the puritans of New England "City On A Hill" vision. They believed that New England began with  a motivaiton to evangelization the First Nations. Others would argue the same for Jamestown. But why?  One only has to explore the rights granted under the English Charters to learn the truth. The real proof that evangelism was not the real motivation for the colonialization of American is found in author Jill Lepore's work. In her highly acclaimed book, "In The name of War," demonstrates that those same "good Christian" intentions brought about the death of thousands of "savages" in King Phillips War. Then there is the fact that before a black was made to sit in the back of a bus - the church made slaves sit in the balcony or back of the church.  The church in America cannot call for a national repentance until it deals with it's own sin and instutionalized racism.  America will experience judgement like the members of the boat crew on Jonah's journey to Ninevah, Assyria until the American Church repents for it's involvement in the "Doctrine Of Discovery." I find it odd that Rabbi Cahn would use the ancient prophetic texts refering to the Assyrians as the basis for his indiment against America.  It's always easier to point out someone else's sin in order to aviod our own.  I wonder if Rabbi Cahn understand the history behind the German Church's role in the holocaust.  Has the German Church ever repented for that artrocity?  

The Fifth Harbinger:  The Gazit Stone

 According to Rabbi Cahn This particular stone was carved out quarried stone from mountain rock and bring it back by the Israelites to the ground of destruction where clay bricks once stood. Three years after 9/11, a 20-ton quarried rock meant to serve as the cornerstone of the new building was brought to Ground Zero. A ceremony took place over the rock in which New York Governor George Pataki pronounced: "Today, we, the heirs of that revolutionary spirit of defiance, lay this cornerstone and unmistakably signal to the world the unwavering strength of this nation, and our resolve to fight for freedom.” Eventually, the stone was removed from Ground Zero.  

But what exactly was the stone removed from ground zero? It was the corner stone of the Twin Towers which was removed and replaced into the foundation of The Freedom Tower!  It was rededicated to the memory of those who last their lives on 911.  Can anyone please explain why on earth the Rabbi would alude to The Gazit Stone?

PROBLEM

Biblically:

The Gazit stone was used as the cornerstone of The Jewish Second Temple in Jerusalem.

God promised the exiles of Jerusalem that they would return to the land, become and independant nation again, and rebuild the temple.  This whole passage is outlined in the Book of Isaiah. It was the promise of Restoration.  Hosea 4:6 says "My people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge.  Too many Christians have not read the Bible and have depended on too many religious leaders to explain things they have never read.

American History Explored:

The Gazit Stone in New York was dedicated to remember the loss of life at The World Trade Center on 911.  When a cornerstone is dedicated it usually has inscribed on it - "its purpose." the inscription on the stone that was removed from the Twin Tower site and then replaced into the foundaton of the freedom tower reads "A Tribute to the enduring spirit of freedom." Gov. George Pataki said in his fourth of July cornerstone speech that the 20-tom block came from the Adirondacks, "The bedrock of New York." How can his words be so miscontrued by the rabbi and turned into some kind of difiance toward God? In fact, the word, "adirondack" should be a clue to Rabbi Cahn and others that this is a "Mohawk" word. In fact, they were the first tribe in support of the American revolution. So if anything, if the Gazit stone, represents the bedrock of New York, or that we are heirs of that revolutionary spirit... then I don't understand how the Rabbi can apply the friendship and support of the Mohawks to George Washington's revolutionary was against England as an act of defiance toward God.  

If this stone is a prophetic symbol representing judgement then we need to have a national repentance on how we murdered and dispossed the Native Americans of their people and land.

The Sixth Harbinger:  The Sycamore

According To Cahn's interpretation of  Isaiah 9:10, the nation of Israel declares that its sycamore trees have been destroyed by the Assyrians during the attack but they would replace them with cedar trees. After the collapse of the buildings during the 9/11 attacks, a shock wave was created that damaged most buildings around the area. Only one building was not harmed which was St. Paul's Chapel, which was protected by a sycamore tree that is believed to have captured the blast. Cahn points out that St. Paul's Chapel was also the place that the government of the United States prayed on the day of the first inauguration of George Washington on April 30, 1789. The sycamore is known today as the 9/11 Sycamore and a memorial was built for it.  Again cahn's application Of The Sycamore Tree being replaced by a Cedar is misdirecting people to believe that we've offended God because of our sins of abortion, removing the ten commandments and prayer out of school, and I'm sure the recent Supreme Court decisions on Obamacare and gay marriage. 

PROBLEM

Biblically:

In Deuteronomy 12:2, the Israelites are directed to "to destroy all the places, wherein the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, upon the high mountains and upon the hills and under every green tree; you shall tear down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire."  The green trees refered to in this passage were the Sycamore Trees.  Israel was directed by God to remove the sycamore trees because they associated with the canaanite religion devotion to the goddess Asheriah.  So, again Rabbi Cahn's faulty hermanutic points to the sycamore as a place of protection.  It is a simple question to ask how the church remains standing but the Sycamore is removed and replaced as being a sign of Judgment.  

American History Explored:

Historically, just google the history of the ole Lynching trees of the south.  The Sycamore Tree was known as the old Lynching Tree in which America is guilt for killing African American people.  If anything, the prophetic perspective is that God is pointing that he is removing the Sycamore (Lynching Tree) and demonstrates that the CHURCH is our national hope for protection.  It is also important to recognize that "Isaiah 9:10" provides the replacement of "Cedar Trees" which have served as a major part in our national history. Now here's the kicker...

The Seventh Harbinger:  The Cedar Tree

Again according To Rabbi Cahn "In Isaiah 9:10, the nation of Israel vows to replace the damaged sycamores with cedars, which are stronger." Two years after the events of 9/11, on November 29, 2003, an actual tree was planted in the place of the original sycamore in front of St. Paul's Chapel. This tree was a 21-foot spruce tree and was called the Tree of Hope. The tree itself no longer exists, as it died and was dug up and destroyed and not replaced. Recently, Dutch sheets has been making some interesting points found in our American history. 

PROBLEM

Biblically:

In the scriptures Cedar trees were not used as an act of defiance.  In fact, it was just the opposite.  Rooted in in Ancient Israel's history, from the time of Moses, cedar tress were used to make the "ark of the covenant." Cedars were used for ritual cleansings (Number 19:6). 

Cedar trees are everywhere mentioned with admiration in the Old Testament. Solomon made the cedar the first of trees (1 Kings 4:33). They are the "glory of Lebanon" (Isaiah 35:2; 60:13). The most boastful threat of Sennacherib was that he would cut down the tall cedars of Lebanon (Isaiah 37:24). They were strong, as is implied in-- - "The voice of Yahweh is powerful; .... The voice of Yahweh breaketh the cedars; Yea, Yahweh breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon" (Psalms 29:4,5). The cedars are tall--"whose height was like the height of the cedars"--(Amos 2:9; 2 Kings 19:23); majestic (2 Kings 14:9), and excellent (Song of Solomon 5:15). They are in particular God's trees-- - "The trees of Yahweh are filled with moisture, The cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted" (Psalms 104:16).  

The wood of the cedar has always been highly prized--much more so than the sycamore (1 Kings 10:27; Isaiah 9:10). David had a house of cedar built for him by Hiram, king of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11), and he prepared "cedar-trees without number" for the temple which his son was to build (1 Chronicles 22:4). Cedar timber was very much used in the construction of Solomon's temple and palace, the trees being cut in the Lebanon by Sidonians by orders of the king of Tyre--"Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire" (1 Kings 5:6-10). One of Solomon's most important buildings was known as "the house of the forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings 7:2; 10:17; 2 Chronicles 9:16), on account of the source of its materials. While cedar was well adapted for beams ( 1 Kings 6:9; Song of Solomon 1:17), boards (Song of Solomon 8:9), pillars (1 Kings 7:2) and ceilings (Jeremiah 22:14), it was also used for ships' masts (Ezekiel 27:5).  So, how does Rabbi Cahn not see the prophetic implications that the cedar tree represents a returning to the Lord?

American History Explored:

In 

1775, George Washington and the American troops were about to face their greatest battle on American soil.  Our General decided to take upon himself behind closed doors to commission 6 privately owned schooners and start his own navy bearing a flag known as "An Appeal to Heaven" flag.  It bears the symbol of a cedar tree.  Dutch Sheets has been issuing a call to churches across America "with this flag in hand" for the church to make "Appeal to Heaven" when the government stops listening.  If Rabbi Cahn could stop moving from his "negative" prespectives, born out of his wrong Lacunzian eschatology maybe he could hear God speaking an important word to the church in America.  Our land is filled with inquitity which runs from the time of our founding fathers to our present sin of racism.  As President Obama in his powerful eulogy, at the funeral of Pastor Clementa Pinckney, said, "For too long we have been blind to the way the past injustices that continue to shape the present."  It evaluating Dutch Sheet's "Appeal To Heaven" call bearing the flag of the Cedar Tree.  The Sycamore Tree (Used for Lynching) should be replaced with a Cedar Tree Flag Appealing to Heaven to help us win this age old national sin that still plagues us today.  Like Israel, in Dueteronmy 12:2 we are being called to remove the Old Sycamore and make it a symbol as it is placed next to St. Paul's in New York to say - The American Church repents for it's involvement in the sin of slavery and is making an appeal to heaven to heal our land (II Chron. 7:14). So now lets look at Rabbi's Cahn's final two points. 

The Eighth Harbinger:  The Utterance Or Vow Of Defiance

Rabbi Cahn stated in the Harbinger that words of defiant pride and arrogance were uttered by Israel after Assyria’s invasion.  He believes that in light of Isaiah 9:10 When America's leaders repeated Isaiah 9:10 in their 911 speeches, they were vowing to defy God’s judgment on America.  

For there to be a parallel with this ancient Israel story, Cahn says a national leader would have to speak the defiant vow to rebuild in the tower just as Israel and Judah vowed to rebuild their nation. What he argues is that U.S. Senator John Edward did this during a 9/11 memorial on September 11, 2004... by quoting Isaiah 9:10.  Was Senator John Edward's words a "vow" of defiance?  Lets remeber that Senator John Edwards was a presidential canidate at the time and is not known for being a biblical scholar.  At best, he like many politicians in America qoute scripture as a part of America's Civil Religion. Here's the context of what he said on September 11, 2004 in an address to the Congressional Black Caucus Prayer Breakfast.  

"Good morning. Today, on this day of remembrance and mourning, 

we have the Lord's word to get us through. "The bricks have fallen, 

but we will build 

with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down 

but we will put cedars in their place." 

And let me show you how we are 

building and putting cedars in those three hallowed places 

he footprints of 

the Towers, 

 the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania. W

alk with me through 

this day and you will see that this is a season of hope."

PROBLEM

Biblically

THE CONTEXT OF ISAIAH 9:1-10 is the promise of the coming Messiah when the government would rest on his shoulders. In fact, it's in this northern context that JESUS was raised and ministered in.  They were the first to hear the gospel. So, Rabbi Cahn's hermenutic and interpetation of this passage is completely off base.  Isaiah 9:10 was a prophecy of the downfall of Samaria the northern capitol of the Kingdom Of Israel not Jerusalem.  The defiance spoke of here has to do with the northern tribes rebellion against Jerusalem. Cahn violates one of the most basic principles of hermeneutics—the literal, historic grammatical method of interpretation.  His hermeneutic is an allegorical one, where there are mysteries hidden deep in the text that, apparently, he has now uncovered.  This allegorical interpretation of the Bible is terribly dangerous and subjective because there is no test for it.  This is the mystery he sees in Isaiah 9:10 and, because he sees it, it is true and applicable to America.  I know of no biblical scholar who would argue that Isaiah 9:10 can be directly or indirectly applied to America.  Yet, Cahn clearly wants us to think so.  The subtitle of his book shows this:  The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future. 

Although Cahn denies he is applying Isaiah 9:10 directly to America (he says it merely reveals a “pattern” of God’s judgment), it is next to impossible to read the book and not reach that conclusion.

American History Explored:

In many ways, if we want to properly apply this to our national history - it has nothing to do with NEW YORK or WASHINGTON.  Everything points to Richmond, Virginia!  The capitol of the OLD SOUTH under President Jefferson Davis.  The context of Isaiah 9:1-10 may demonstrate Israel’s defiance Of God, however, the only way to properly apply Rabbi Cahn’s use of this text to our national history would have to be rooted in calling for “Richmond, Virginia” to repent and reconcile itself for it’s history in being the capitol of the South. But, the problem with that thought is that it already has.  According to Rob Corcoran, author of “TRUSTBUILDING: an honest conversation on race, reconciliation and responsibility,” Richmond has repented for its history.  

When you examine Senator Edwards words 

There is absolutely NO defiance 

toward God in his remarks to the "BLACK Causus PRAYER breakfast."  If fact, I think we need to be very careful to insinuate that such words of defiance would be uttered against God in such a context.  In light of Dutch Sheets usage of the CEDAR TREE flag I see Senator Edwards words in this context "AS AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN" syaing we are placing cedars in THREE hallowed places of 911.  Ground Zero, Stoystown, PA. (Flight 93), and the pentegon.  What I don't ubderstand is why Rabbi Cahn views 911 only in the context of New York.  If we are going to use 911 imagery as the bases of Isaiah 9:10 why isn't it applied to Stoystown? This is the place where the passengers rose up to stop the plane from it's planned destination... our national capitol building where the House and Senate were in full session.  They entire government would have been taken down.  When the Assyrian Invasion took place "THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL" was removed and their capitol was destroyed.  The Kingdom of Judah anticipated this fall as a result as a result of the split in the kingdom.  It's kind of like the south falling during the civil war! Our national narrative points to the liberation of African slaves from the grips of a planned national structure for permanent slavery. 

The tragedy of The Harbinger is not its message:  America does need to repent.  Sin and its ugly consequences are pervasive in America and when one reads Romans 1:18-34 one sees the universal consequences that apply to every person, tribe or nation that defies God.  The downward spiral of those verses characterizes every civilization in human history that has rejected God.  America is suffering those consequences not because it is in a special covenant relationship with God but because God has established His moral law and to defy it is to experience these consequences.  

There is no way Cahn can make the leap using this scripture to show Senator Edwards was being defiant like the  Northern Kingdom Of Israel was toward Judah.  Let me state the only thing 911 points to is that America is under judgement because the church has not dealt with it's sin of slavery and racism.  Someone once said, "As the church goes, so goes the nation!"  God is calling the church to repent for its actions under the "Doctrine Of Discovery."   Rabbi Cahn's final point focuses on...

The Eighth Harbinger: The Prophecy

According to Cahn, For Israel, Isaiah 9:10 was a prophecy from God as to what would happen to Israel.  For America, Isaiah 9:10 is likewise a pronouncement of judgment from God. Rabbi Cahn states clearly in his teachings on this subject as well as in his book,  that ancient Israel, according to Cahn, had a national leader who would utter the Isaiah 9:10 vow as a prophecy.  Cahn says type of event occurred one day after the events of 9/11,  then America issued its official response to the terrorism attacks. Senator Tom Daschle, who was the Senate Majority Leader at the time and in charge of the official response.  Speaking  before the Congress  quoted Isaiah 9:10.  The problem here is the order of Cahn's own perspective.  Wouldn't John Edwards have to speak first then it would be confirmed by Daschal?  Daschal spoke on September 12, 2001.  Edwards spoke on September 11, 2004 four years later.  

PROBLEM

Biblically

Again a

nyone familiar with this historical background to the passage would understand that the indictment results from the long history of the Northern Tribal history from the time king Ahab and Jezebel lead the Northern Kingdom of into Baal worship.  This was their national sin.  I know doomsdayers like Cahn would say America can be likened to the northern kingdom of Israel but Isaiah is a book of hope that promises "restoration."  America does not need to be restored.  It needs to be transformed.  

American History Explored:

Our history under the Indian Removal Act, the fugative slave law of 1793 and the work of President Franklyn Pierce in making  slavery the major component of our national economy points to God's judgement on our nation. It didn't begin in Philadelphia.  The charters issued under the "Doctrine Of Discovery" provided the foundation to our ever present sin.  The American Church needs to lead the way to advert judgement.  If it doesn't the nation will continue to divide and suffer without understanding why... just as Sen. Edwards and Daschle have misunderstood why 911 has happened.  

Let me be clear about a major component to this discussion on "WHY RABBI CAHN" is wrong as to the whys.  Isaiah 9:1-11 is written by a prophet to GOD"S people.  Christian America may believe that this is a historic Christian nation but I ask when was it Christian?  It's a nation that has had dynamic movements of the Holy Spirit which resulted in people coming to Christ but historically our Christian historians tainted views of utopian America have resulted in a view of Manifest Destiny,  This is what the Islamic World is figthing about.  The Papal Edicts given in the 1500's now known as the "Doctrine of Discovery" began as an effort to convert the Islamic World to the Roman Catholic faith.   The Harbinger has a legitimate message—America needs to repent.  It is a nation that God will hold accountable for the pervasive nature of sin in this country.  But, that is the message of the Gospel itself.  Humans are sinners; Jesus came to die for that sin; we appropriate that finished work of Jesus Christ by faith.  If we can't trust his allegorical applications of Israel's history to America then how can we trust his blood moons and shemitah claims.  Too bad for him that he's so caught up in Manuel de Lacunza's false eschatology.  A great friend once said to me, "Never prophecy out of a negative spirit."  Revelation 19:10 says, The spirit of prophecy is the testmony of Jesus!  Does Jesus off America judgement or mercy?  Did he pay the penalty for our national sins or not?  Does he give us grace when we are blind and cannot see?  

On September 29, 2012 I spent a few moments with Rabbi Cahn taking him to the new home of the liberty bell in Philadelphia.  I wanted to get his mind "redirected" on our National Sin of "SLAVERY" as the basis for the impending judgement we are facing as a nation.  Here's why.  In 2002, when the new site of The Liberty Bell opened it's doors, visitors began treading directly over ground where George Washington's slaves toiled, slept, suffered and plotted escape during the eight years of his presidency. When the pavilion was designed, no one knew the exact location of the old President's House, where Washington and successor John Adams lived from 1790 until 1800.  And no one apparently considered the possibility that the pavilion would be on the soil where Washington kept his human property. During the development of the site, excavations led to the discovery that George Washington had a house where his slaves stayed during those times he met with the early continental congress. This site is now the location of the Liberty Bell pavilion.  The Liberty Bell, which is inscribed "Proclaim Liberty to the inhabitants of the Land," is now resting on the top of this old slave house!  Now that's prophetic!  But Rabbi Cahn and those who gathered to pray in Philadelphia at my insistance didn't get it.  Enough said.

A Church Adrift?

I believe in the church.  However, the church is not a place you go to. It's a people.  People who have been called out of themselves and into and intimate relationship with God and others. Lately, I find myself struggling with the setbacks that are occurring in many churches as a result of a performance oriented and technological driven culture. It's unfortunate that many church leaders and groups have been seduced into an attractional, propositional, and colonial group culture.  Since the mid-1970's God has been calling his people into a real New Testament church life experience.  Somehow. this calling has gotten lost in all the noise and scrabbling to become culturally relevant. Having grown up in a very large baptist church with it's one hundred voice choir, thundering organ, and broadcast driven Sunday morning live radio productions; I find myself at a loss in the world of staged re-enactments of the stations of the cross, cold play like worship concerts, and large screen monitors having become the new stained glass windows.  Add to this, the idea that relevancy means "to do accept anything and measure our outcomes by numbers, cash and assets as a measure of success leaves me completely confused. I cannot find one piece of evidence of Jesus' staging a show with The Blues Brothers as being an evidence of faith.  It's cool and the show will draw crowds... but I can also turn on my light at night and attract a crowd too!  Of bugs. Lol  Is this the reason the Son Of God came to earth?  Crowds? Crowds are fun... and as a former musician I love all kinds of music (except country), lights, and stage productions but those things do not produce "disciples."  Discipleship is like raising kids - it's intentional, it takes time, and it involves teaching people self-discipline and building healthy relationship with God and one another. On average, it takes a unsaved person about 7 years from leading a person to Christ, discipling them, and engaging them into places of leadership. It's an awesome task to undertake.


Last weekend I had the opportunity to minister in a church modeled that was based on the contemporary church model I have been apart of since 1990.  I enjoyed my time worshipping and ministering with them. However, I noticed something about myself.  Just as God called me out of the Baptist Tradition he has moved me from something I loved into something that I don't quite understand yet.  Now this is not unusual for me.  It takes me about 5 years to figure out what I've gotten myself into. But it seems to me that God has his finger on the subject of incarnation, iniquity, and racial justice all at the same time. How this translates into a new way of doing things I'm not sure but I do know it involves participatory culture, holograms, and the idea of every church having it's own incarnational story.  God is a creative guy.  Not everybody is interested in being starbucked.  Individualized branding, customization and uniqueness is the way of the future.  We are all called to celebrate that creation.  I don't think the current post-modern church is prepared for what is about to take place.  What would happen if a whole city in an instant got saved.  So, if you live in a small city of 55,000 and currently 13,000 attend 42 different worship on Sunday mornings there are 42,000 sleeping in.  the average church seating runs safely around 300.  According to my stats those 42 churches are serving about 310 people each.  So if this little city were to have a revival break out in one day and the whole city had to be prepared.  Each church would have to take on an additional 1,000 people. Now if we were to really believe that God was going to change our city how are each of our churches prepared to facilitate the ministry to those new 42,000 converts.  Remember it takes 7 years to disciple them to a sustainable faith in Christ.  This is a lot of work. who's writing the circulum?  Who's preparing to outfit the church with the proper technological tools for the generation we are called to serve?  Who is going to handle, teach, train, and disciple the people? How many workers do you need?  How much seating, parking, adequate restrooms, and children's facilities would you need to administrate this church?  How much staffing do you need to meet the needs of a totally unchurched group of people?  how many people in your current church have read and studied the scripture to be able to teach it to others?

Years ago I had a very significant discussion with a major leader from the 1970's Jesus People Movement.  At the time, my friend was probably the darling of the Charismatic movement and was a profound bible teacher.  You had to wait to get in stadiums for 45 minutes ahead of time to just get a seat in his meetings.  His church was considered one of the first mega churches in America.  In 1973 is church grew to 3000.  I asked him what was the key to becoming an effective leader during that time. He explained to me that he made a shift in his ministry.  He had to learn the cultural language of the generation they served.  He choose a bible that was relevant to them - The New American Standard Bible.  His church had an awesome worship leader who's music brought song's like "Our God Reigns" to the church world. He told me that the key was to shift the preaching, teaching, and ministry to meet the questions of the generation.  Very powerful insight!  However, I think we are facing a serious problem in our time.  The current generation lives in time where "communication technologies" are causes breakdowns in people's ability to hold meaningful discussion. Recently, and American survey demonstrated that most people have an 8  second attention span.  We live in a world of soundbites. This makes it diffcult to read, teach, and hold the attention of an audience if you want people to learn the scriptures. One friend of mine is trying to offer 90 second biblical insights on his website daily. Tough stuff.  Critical thinking may be a thing of the past for many which is why many churches arew resorting to the entertainment model.  My thinking is that the contemporary model, altough attracting thousands, is still not reaching the greater population for Christ,  Currently,  90 % of Gen Y (digitals) now moving toward their thirties have never darkened the church's door and have not heard the Gospel.  America has become the number one mission field.  What bother's me is how many think the contemporary model church is the answer to reaching post-moderns.  It's not working.  It doesn't disciple people. Contemporary Churches lose 30% of their people every year.  Lights, music, and motivational teaching are not resulting in transformation.  I find most leaders from all denominations and various models of church life are struggling to meet the demands that are created by our new high tech culture. The greatest shift in our time will be how to help this generation develop "critical thinking skills," learning how to communicate, learning how to listen, discern and make good life decisions, and buiding relationship skills necessary for authentic success in their lives.  How we develop that will take time and a willingness to do our due diligence and reseach to change ourselves and the ministries we serve.  

The Undoing Of "Pentecostalism" and The Work Of The Holy Spirit

Serving the last generation of leaders taught me a great deal about the important work and moving of the Holy Spirit.  The easiest way to start a revival is to reach church leadership, who love Jesus, and passionate teach his word.  One of my favorite passages demonstrating this comes from Acts 18:24-26 "A Jew named Apollos, who had been born in Alexandria, arrived in the city of Ephesus.  He was an eloquent speaker and knew how to use the scriptures in a powerful way.  He had been instructed in the Lord's way and spoke enthusiastically.  He accurately taught about Jesus but knew only about the baptism John performed."  In other words, He was an evangelical preacher who knew how to lead others to Christ and baptize them."  In Acts 19:1-3 Paul arrives and asks, those who came to Christ under Apollos' ministry, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'  These new believers at Ephesus responded, "We never even heard of the Holy Spirit."  So right out the gate we see Apollos never introduced them to an encounter with the Holy Spirit because he only knew of John's Baptism. Paul then asks (Acts 19:3) "Then what kind of Baptism did you have?"  So they responded that they only knew of John's baptism and Paul then introduces them to The Baptism In The Holy Spirit and they begin 'Speaking in Tongues' (Acts 19:6).  Apollos could only take them as far as he had gone in his experience.  He led this group into understanding who Christ is and their need for water baptism. He was one of the best Evangelical leaders of his day - an eloquent speaker, knew how to use the scriptures in a powerful way and spoke enthusiastically but he was not familiar with the Baptism Of The Holy Spirit.  However, Acts 18:26-27 says that Priscilla and Aquila, took him home with them and explained God's way to him more accurately.  It is here, I believe he is introduced to the Holy Spirit to Apollos and he leaves Ephesus to bath himself in the understanding of this new testament faith experience. Every believer needs to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit!  You can be saved and be assured by the Holy Spirit your are a son or daughter of God but you can remain ignorant of the Baptism Of The Holy Spirit.

Years ago, a funny little man, a Dutch Reformed Minister, named Herald Bredesen came into my life. I had been raised in a Baptist Church that was pastored by a great pastor who graduated from Princeton Seminary and was an eloquent speaker and accurate Bible teacher like Apollos. One day, someone introduced him to The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit and he began to speak in tongues. As a result he introduced it to us. My pastor's encounter of the Holy Spirit can be traced right back to Herald Bredesen introducing the Holy Spirit to members of the clergy throughout the world. He was a bold witness and introduced the Baptism of The Holy Spirit to men and women like Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale, Dr. Robert Schuller, and Dr. Pat Robertson.  Their lives were changed.  In fact, on the occasion of Herald's night of ministry to The Peales; Mrs Peale assigned one of her best editors, John Sherrill, from Guideposts magazine to follow Herald around as he ministered in various places. The result was John received the Baptism Of The Holy Spirit and wrote a book called "They Speak With Other Tongues."  This book was read by many Catholic leaders and lead to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Duquesne in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  It is here that my Baptist pastor was introduced to the Holy Spirit.

Over the years, I had the privilege to travel with Herald. In fact, in 1987 Herald asked me to accompany him to the Vatican where he introduced me to Pope John Paul II.  I was amazed to learn the Pope John Paul was Baptized In The Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues all the time. I watched Herald introduce people to Jesus and especially the Baptism In The Holy Spirit unashamed no matter what status in life they held.  Why is it that we have so many contemporary pentecostal leaders mixing with great evangelical leaders and not introducing them to the Baptism Of The Holy Spirit?  We have a whole generation of great evangelical leaders who have been used mightily like Apollos... but we haven't witnessed a Priscilla, Aquila or even and apostolic leader like Paul being bold enough to ask the questions we find in Acts 18:24-26. I am a baptist boy (age 11) who got Baptized by The Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, and laid hands on a 13 year deaf/mute girl who got instantly healed.  I have no interest in returning to the franchise I served.  God broke me out of my traditions and set me ablaze to share the Baptism Of The Spirit to many people and leaders around the world.  I get excited about introducing the Baptism Of The Holy Spirit.  Former Assemblies Of God minister, David DuPlessis did the same - why can't pentecostals do the same.  When I introduced the Baptism Of Holy Spirit to Rick Godwin, senior minister of the Summit Christian Center in San Antonio, Texas in 1983 - He was a baptist minister, serving a Baptist Church in Atlanta, and was a graduate of Bob Jones University.  As a result of his encounter with the Holy Spirit,  God revolutionized him and brought him into a new dimension of ministry that went world wide with signs and wonders. In the early 1990's I was honored to introduce Rick to my friends Brian Houston and Pat Mesiti. Rick has been a regular guest at Hillsong for the last 20+ years. It's awesome to see how God works. God can always do it again and again if we would just open ourselves to the work of The Holy Spirit.

I recently saw a posting with my dear friend, Phil Pringle, a great apostolic leader of C3 churches based out of Sydney, Australia preaching at Steven Furtick's Elevation Church just recently. I was greatly encouraged to see Phil there because he is a Holy Spirit man. If anyone will impart "a new dimension of the Holy Spirit" into Steven Furtick's life - Phil will be one of those guys. We need more leaders like Phil who come out of pentecostal cultures and lead a whole new generation into a new move of God. I love Phil... and I love the possibilities of seeing Steven Furtick's generational leaders encountering the Holy Spirit in the same manner at we find here in Acts 18 & 19.  Great leaders of the last generation were not afraid to introduce the Baptism Of The Holy Spirit to denominations who never even heard of the experience.  A number of years ago, I was directing/producing Che Ahn's Holy Spirit Today Show and arranged for an interview with Cliff Barrows from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  Cliff agreed to the interview and shared a very powerful story.

During the interview, Che asked Cliff how Billy Graham and his team got their break.  Cliff shared on film that he and Billy Graham had gone to Theneathly, Wales to hear the great preacher Stephen Olford share the gospel. After hearing the young Graham and Barrows approached him to ask how they could be used of God like Olford was being used.  He invited them back to his hotel where he laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit just like Paul did in this passage.  They were both powerfully touched and Billy Graham proclaimed that every believer needed this experience. From that time forward, according to Cliff, Crowds of people came and kept coming to Billy Graham's meetings and millions were saved. He attributed the growth of their ministry to the Baptism In The Holy Spirit.  God has placed many contemporary pentecostal leaders in key positions to impact our new post-modern leaders. Just days before his death, Pastor Frank Houston shared with me his concern for the contemporary pentecostal church in Australia. He said, "Mike, they are moving the Holy Spirit right out of their churches. Don't you do that Mike."  I responded, "Frank, you don't have to worry about me." My concern for these great 21st century churches is that they will relegate the work of their pentecostal forefathers right  out of the life of their churches.  It will be the undoing of their movements. The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit is an essential gift promised to every believer. (Acts 2:39-39)

Just for the record my mentors,  Herald Bredesen, Judson Cornwall, Malcolm Smith, Jim Burke, Jim Brown, Glen Foster, and John Gimenez instilled the importance of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit as an normal essential experience for all believers.  I'm committed to that new testament experience and will not be ashamed of this blessed experience... and will share it with all those I can influence.  I hope you will take time to read Acts 1:8, Acts 2, 10:44ff, and 19:1-6 and ask Jesus to Baptize you with the Holy Spirit.  How will know you've received it?  When you have the experience these early disciples had in the Book of Acts.  It's the normal Christian life.  It's also imperative to share the "whole" gospel to men like Apollos in our generation.

Deconstructing The Euro-Centric American Gospel (PART ONE)

So you want to believe that we are living in the last days. Isaiah 2:2-3 says, "In the last days The mountain of the Lord's house will be established as the highest of the mountains and raised above the hills. All nations will stream into it!  Then many people will come and say, 'Come and let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of our God. He will teach us HIS WAYS and we will walk in HIS PATHS for the law shall go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem." What a great promise.  Do you think we are there yet?  One of the most important aspects of Isaiah's prophecy is that "HE will teach of HIS ways." Later in Isaiah 55:8-9 God speaks to humanity and says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Too often, churches across North America think they are teaching God's ways; when in fact they are steeped in a colonial "white" gospel.  Without realizing or paying close attention to understanding what the "roots" of our Westernized gospel has been - we are under the influence of a Euro-centric culture that dehumanized and stripped both First Nations and African American people of their cultural heritage.  In fact, we have presumed that the underlying foundations of the Christian faith were based in an integris commitment to present the Christian faith to the Native people with the planting of the first English flag on the shores of Cape Henry.  There is increasing evidence to prove otherwise with the recent examination of the papal edicts that gave ascendency to what is called, "The Doctrine Of Discovery."  The doctrine of discovery was an edict that told European leaders to "go conquer and dispossess pagan, heathen and unchristian lands; disposses them and to bring the inhabitants of the land into perpetual slavery."  So Portugal went to Africa and enslaved the African people. The Dutch did the same followed by the Spanish and English nations.  Rev. Robert Hunt planted his cross along with seven other crosses around the Chesapeake Bay to let the Portugees, Spanish, French, and Dutch know that England was taking this territory in the name of their God and King.  Why did they bring Rev. Robert Hunt?  To Christianize the Native American's and use them for the crown's purpose. Gospel according to the English ment to cut Pocahanna's hair, give her a bath, and put proper English clothing on her and to adopt "White Anglo-saxon" ways.  That was their gospel.  Instead of allowing her to hear the gospel and allowing the incarnation of the Holy Spirit to work in her tribal ways the English imposed their culture on the Native cultures.  History accuratley demonstrates this from North to South, East to West.  When the Powhatten tribe and other Chesapeake Bay tribes fought back against the plantation of Virginia Governor Berkley got so frustrated that he ordered the introduction of African slaves to be imported since the First Nations were not suited for meeting the needs of free labor for southern plantations in Virginia.  This is a simple survey of the story but it's true. 

Later, in Carlisle, Pa., a First Nations School was established to decontruct Native American identity. The purpose of this Christian school was to make "Native Americans" white.  The same happened to the African slaves in the south during the reconstruction period.  The intention was to deconstruct and assimulate First Nations tribal ways into a euro-centric cultural way.  Children were taken from their familiesand tribes and sent to these "White Euro-centric" schools and forced to stop speaking their native languages and to lose their Native cultural ways and become "American."  Today, we have 4 to 5 generations of First Nations people who cannot think like a Native Born person because they only have white man's thinking after this deprogramming initiative of the American government. Likewise, African American children have been indoctrinated to think like "White" America who view themselves as superior to the descendants of the slaves.  Why is all this history important?  Because, the exiles in Babylon had the same problems as the First Nations and African-American people exiled in North America.  Babylon wanted to assimulate the Jewish people and destroy their national identity. That's when Isaiah writes, "Come let us go to the mountain of the Lord... and he will teach us of his ways!"  Not Euro-centric cultural ways... God will teach us his way- how to treat people properly.  

“Well, Mackenzie, don’t just stand there gawkin’

with your mouth open like your pants are full,”

said the big black woman as she turned

and headed across the deck, talking the whole time.

“Come and talk to me while I get supper on.”

– The Old Black Woman as God in The Shack

By William Paul Young

I think God is calling the greatest weekly segregationist groups in American (The Church) to decolonize itself and look for a new incarnational understanding of its "Gospel." God is wanting to reveal the nature of his incarnational ways in and through non-euro-centric culture. But the question remains: Does what ran in our white segregationist, racist fathers/mothers still run in us?  Can we see God as an Old Black woman?  or does that sicken our own little racist hearts?  The truth is revealed in our relationship to "those people."  - whether white, hispanic, african american, muslim, Korean or Jew.  Repentance and racial reconciliation is the call of the Holy Spirit.  In the mind of some this will be seen and dismissed as a politically liberal article. However, Isaiah wants us to know that our ways of thinking are not as God thinks. In Fact, Romans 8:7 says "our minds are at enmity against God." This is why God is calling us to ascend to the mountain of the Lord to learn His ways - IN THE LAST DAYS!  After all - ALL humanity was created in the image of God.  So to respect and honor the Imago Dei in another culture other than mine is to acknowledge another expression of who God is.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit is calling us to re-learn his ways (free of Euro-centric American Thinking) which would then call us to work with Him to reorder our worlds.

Drive By Relationships: It's time to slow down!

Each of us have the exact same amount of hours each week.  God gave each of us 168 hours a week. He designed creation to work this way.   Since most of us require 8 hours of sleep (56 hours) we are left with 112 hours of wake time.  Since God want us to take a regular sabbath (which is 10% of 168) we are left with  96 hours. If you are on a 40 hour a week schedule you are left with 56 hours or 9.33 hour per day to do whatever you deem important to you.  So if God has given each of the same amount of allotted time then why do so many people complain they don't have enough time?  Is your schedule under control?  If not, why not?

A number of years back, Bill Gates wrote a book entitled, "Business At The Speed Of Thought." The purpose of the book was to tell us to prepare ourselves for an acceleration of doing life at rapid speed due to new technologies.  Who would have figured facebook, instagram, twitter, snap chat, etc. becoming our regular means of communication?  140 characters, sloganeering, instant messaging have become the norm for marriages, friends, and kids.  No more table conversations around a dinner table. No more early morning coffees with the wife.  Husbands and wives juggling schedules to run kids to school, after school activities, chic-fli-a for dinner, soccer on Sunday mornings to ensure their is no faith instilled in your family life. Sounds old fashion to actually say, "you have the power to slow down and take time for your relationship with God, your family, and yourself."

All I ever hear these days, "I can't BE THERE I have too much work  to do."  Then we wonder why there is an epidemic of heroin use in our communities, porn, kids being abducted into sex slavery, violence in schools, 50% of American kids going home without a home cooked dinner and sitting all night in front of a video game leanring how to shoot guns and killing people. Daycare providers, latch key kids, and supposed vacation fixes for marriage is no excuse for schedules being out of control.  God did not design life to be like a fast food restaurant. No one can do life/business at the speed of thought.  My own brain is very creative, has hundreds of ideas, and is able to move at lightning speed but I regularily empty my thoughts in my "trash bin" because much of it is a distraction.  Too many people are filling up their schedules like landfills.  They are unable to keep up with the trash pile up and then have melt downs when their world is overscheduled.  Recently, I've watched people, even in church, who can't sit still, have to keep checking their smart phones, and won't engage in worship because they just don't know how to unhook from their technology addictions.  Being a human means "being present."  You can't expect a healthy relationship with anyone when your body is present but your not.  You can't expect a healthy relationship with drive by comments...  relationships take time to build, being engaged in conversation, and being together in those 9 and half hours you have to spend daily.  Even the sabbath was designed by God to unhook yourself from the daily routines of life so that you could reconnect to God, yourself and those you love. You make the choices of what's important to you.. you choose how to spend your time - you can't blame anyone but yourself for the decisions you make.  Relationship is either important or not. 

American culture today insists that we must be doing something or accomplishing something in order to have self-worth.  Need evidence?  Just suggest to someone that they're not busy and watch the fur fly. We live in a culture that is out of control.  Being relaxed is equated to being lazy.  Whatever happened to that "conversation over a cup of coffee (Third Place) vs. The Starbuck drive-thu?"  Steve Schultz said in his book, "Pour Your Heart Into It,"  that Amercia needed a Third Place like the Itailian cafes in Italy for people to take regular breaks in their day and connect with others.  Guess the only place for that to happen is the bar... drink your stresses away because you have NO TIME in your overscheduled day. If I sound a bit out of touch here... then so be it.  However, a text message, a FB picture, tweeting, instagraming just doesn't replace good ole facetime.  Being together, enjoying a another person, and having meaningful connections in this busy culture is more important to me these days than what "great accomplishments" my so called friends are posting on facebook.  Is it any wonder the divorce rate is climbing?  Is it any wonder our kids are going to school carrying guns to solve their problems?  It's all because too many people are trying to do drive-by relationships and not taking the time to slow down and let the people they claim are important to them know they are valued over the over-scheduled business of their daily routines. One last thought, don't ever justify your over-scheduled, disorganized, work addiction by saying "Well I am doing this all for you!"  Really?